Our Programs

The Little School programs are designed for girls and boys from six weeks through three years of age. We are licensed by the State of Rhode Island, Department of Children, Youth and Families and currently seeking accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Infant Room

3:1 Child:Teacher Ratio (maximum of 6 enrolled per day)

Good infant care is neither baby-sitting nor preschool. It is a special kind of care that resembles no other.

-The Program for Infant Toddler Care Philosophy

Finding the right caregivers for your infant is an important milestone in your life as a parent. The Little School offers a nurturing environment in which families and teachers create a unique partnership to support the growth and development of your child. Each individual child’s needs and interests are of primary focus throughout the day, and each is encouraged to explore at his or her own pace and in relation to the child’s developmental level.

Yearling and Young Toddler Room

4:1 Child:Teacher Ratio (maximum of 12 enrolled per day)

Children desire to acquire knowledge, have much capacity for curiosity and amazement, and yearn to create relationships with others and communicate.

-Loris Malaguzzi

The teachers in the Young Toddler and Yearling programs seek to help each child develop an appreciation for his or her uniqueness as well as a sense of respect for others and oneself. Our curriculum focuses on enhancing language, motor, cognitive, social and emotional development through hands on exploration, teacher interaction, peer interaction and a variety of stimulating daily experiences.

Older Toddler Room

5:1 Child:Teacher Ratio (maximum of 12 enrolled per day*)

In the Reggio Emilia preschools, however, each child is viewed as infinitely capable, creative, and intelligent. The job of the teacher is to support these qualities and to challenge children in appropriate ways so that they develop fully.

— Louise Boyd Cadwell

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, in the Older Toddler program cues are taken from children’s individual interests, learning styles and abilities to facilitate learning. At the Little School, teachers focus on the child’s daily learning and individual development, not the end goal. Curriculum concentrates on the process and foundation of learning, not the resulting product. Children are viewed as individuals who contribute to the environment in a unique way.

Young Three Room

6:1 Child:Teacher Ratio (maximum of 14 enrolled per day*)

The pleasure of learning and knowing, and of understanding, is one of the most important and basic feelings that every child expects from the experiences he confronts alone, with other children or with adults. It is a crucial feeling which must be reinforced so that the pleasure survives even when reality may prove that learning, knowing and understanding involve difficulty and effort.

-Loris Malaguzzi

The Young Three program prepares an environment that supports discovery and exploration to allow children to follow their natural curiosity, develop ideas, and learn about their world and themselves. Our goal is for children to become active and engaged learners with curiosity, imagination, and confidence.

* Teachers of special programs are included in the ratio when they are present in the classroom.

Special Programs

Beginning at approximately two years of age, children have the opportunity to participate in special classes such as gym, library, music, and a world language program. Each class is offered once per week with the exception of the world languages, which encompass two classes per week in Spanish and French.